Knowledge of how individual organisms behave in their environment can provide a greater understanding of population dynamics. In a predator-prey system, the choices made by predators when foraging for prey are important aspects of behavior. Particularly in the case of a stage-structured prey population, how the predator selects prey stages once a prey patch has been located can have implications for prey population growth, predator development and fecundity, and predator-prey system dynamics. Predaceous mites of the family Phytoseiidae are important biological control agents of Tetranychus spider mites in agricultural settings worldwide. Phytoseiid species range from specialists that require Tetranychus spider mite prey in order to develop and reproduce to generalist omnivores. In studies with 13 phytoseiid species, specialized species tended to prefer T. urticae eggs as prey or have no prey-stage preference while more generalist species tended to have no prey-stage preference or prey more often on mobile immatures. Further testing with a subset of these species suggested variability among species with regard to genetic and environmental influences on prey-stage preference. The specialist Phytoseiulus persimilis also preferred to forage and oviposit in patches containing egg-biased stage distributions rather than in adjacent mobile immature-biased patches. No benefits to offspring developing in either type of patch were found in terms of developmental time or subsequent adult fecundity. However, the results of both manipulative experiments and nonlinear population models indicated potential benefits of egg-biased predation in terms of current adult female fecundity, a less severe impact of predation on the prey population, and an increased number of predator descendents during the predator-prey interaction. Considering both subjective factors and discriminant analyses, prey-stage preference performed well as an indicator for the ecological classification of phytoseiid species. The classifications of four phytoseiid species occurring on apple in central and eastern Oregon, USA, were evaluated accordingly. / Graduation date: 2004

The shake and wash technique (samples placed in a jar with alcohol added and shaken to remove the mites) was effective in removing 100% of the predator mites, and adult spruce spider mites from Douglas-fir foliage and 98% of the spruce spider mite nymphs. Eighty-eight percent of the spruce spider mite eggs was removed. This technique was considered efficient for removal of spruce spider mite and its predators from Douglas-fir foliage. Sodium hypochlorite (0.84%) added to the alcohol did not increase the number of spruce spider mites or phytoseiid mites removed from the foliage. The intracanopy distribution of spruce spider mite and its predator mites was studied on Douglas-fir Christmas trees in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. When overwintering spruce spider mite egg densities populations were low (<5 eggs/19 cm of stem), significantly more eggs were found on the current season's growth. No significant differences were found between top and bottom halves of the tree or between compass directions. Differences between current and previous season's growth were not found when egg densities were high (>40 eggs/19 cm of stem), but significant differences were found between levels for current season's growth with more eggs found in the upper portion of the canopy. Quadri-directional differences did not exist with either low or high mite populations. Sampling tip or basal stem-halves with low overwintering egg populations did not bias population estimates. Heavy spring rainfall appeared to reduce mite populations as has been reported elsewhere by washing them off the tree and causing increased mortality. Spruce spider mite disperse to the current season's growth shortly after budbreak. Population density rapidly increased in late May and then abruptly declined in mid-July. / Graduation date: 1991

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-01-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:22:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_mz_dr_jabo.pdf: 519881 bytes, checksum: 7fd0c464d822d7c709bf01217e3de340 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O Brasil é considerado o maior produtor e exportador citros. Embora competitiva, a citricultura brasileira é bastante vulnerável, em função da constante ameaça de pragas e doenças que, podem, em determinadas circunstâncias, tornaremse fatores limitantes a produção. Dentre as pragas de importância econômica para a citricultura, o ácaro Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) é apontado como uma das principais, sendo responsável por uma parcela significativa do custo da produção de citros no Brasil, devido à necessidade de freqüentes aplicações de acaricidas para o seu controle. Dentre os agentes de controle biológico, os ácaros das famílias Phytoseiidae e Stigmaeidae são os de maior importância. Os ácaros dessas famílias coexistem em diversas culturas, e freqüentemente promovem o controle biológico de ácaros-praga e interagem entre si através de competição por presas ou pela predação interespecífica. Assim sendo, o objetivo da pesquisa foi conhecer as possíveis interações entre os membros das diferentes espécies de ácaros presentes em pomares cítricos do Estado de São Paulo, além de avaliar o efeito de agrotóxicos sobre ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae e Stigmaeidae) encontrados em citros, e estudar a viabilidade de uso de Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) para o controle de B. phoenicis na cultura. Um dos possíveis problemas relacionados à liberação de ácaros predadores visando ao controle de ácaros-praga seria o fato de que estes inimigos naturais poderiam ser mortos devido à aplicação de agrotóxicos. A introdução de populações de fitoseídeos tolerantes ou resistentes a produtos químicos em agroecossistemas citrícolas, possibilitaria a manutenção de um ambiente favorável ao controle biológico exercido pelos predadores, mesmo diante da aplicação de agrotóxicos, sem o efeito negativo sobre a mortalidade... / Brazil is considered the world's largest citrus grower and orange juice exporter. Although it is competitive, the Brazilian citriculture is vulnerable, in function of constant threats from pests and diseases, which, in certain circumstances, may become limiting factors to the production. Among the pests of economic importance, the mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) is considered one of the main pests, responsible for a significant portion of citrus production cost in Brazil, because of the necessity of frequent acaricide applications for its control. Among the biological control agents, the mites of the families Phytoseiidae and Stigmaeidae are the most important. The mites of these families coexist on several crops, and frequently promote the biological control of pest mites and interact with each other through the competition for prey or by interspecific predation. Therefore, the objective of this research was to understand the possible interactions among members of different mite species present in citrus orchards in the State of São Paulo, as well as to evaluate the effect of pesticides on the predaceous mites found on citrus; and to study the viability of the use of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) for the control of B. phoenicis on this crop. One of the possible problems related to predaceous mite releases aiming at the control of pest mites is the fact that these natural enemies can be killed by the applications of pesticides. The introduction of populations of phytoseiid mites which are resistant or tolerant to pesticides in citrus agroecosystems may contribute to keep a favorable environment for the biological control exerted by the predators, even in conditions of pesticide applications, without the negative effect on the mortality of these natural enemies. A strain of N. californicus, collected from a strawberry field in Atibaia County, State of São Paulo, has shown... Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Marineide Rosa Vieira / Banca: Luiz de Souza Corrêa / Banca: Reinaldo José Fazzio Feres / Resumo: A lichia é uma fruta de grande valor econômico. A cultura da lichia pode ser muito danificada pela infestação do ácaro Aceria litchii (Keifer), sua principal praga. Pouco se conhece sobre os padrões de ocorrência e de diversidade de comunidades de ácaros associados a essa cultura no Brasil, sendo que esse conhecimento é básico e imprescindível na elaboração de propostas de manejo dessa praga. O presente trabalho teve por objetivos acompanhar a ocorrência de A. litchii em plantas de lichia no município de Casa Branca, estado de São Paulo, caracterizar os sintomas de danos decorrentes do seu desenvolvimento e identificar possíveis agentes de controle biológico dessa praga. A ocorrência de A. litchii e os danos provocados foram acompanhados em quatro árvores adultas, de 12 anos de idade, da variedade Bengal. Para isso, mensalmente, de cada planta, foram coletadas quatro extremidades de ramo com aproximadamente 0,5 m de comprimento, no período de agosto de 2008 a agosto de 2009. Os ácaros predadores foram avaliados em dois ramos de 0,30 m de comprimento. As variáveis consideradas para A. litchii foram: porcentagem de folhas atacadas, número de galhas nas folhas, número de ácaros em galhas presentes em folhas e gemas. Os predadores foram montados em lâmina de microscopia, identificados e contados. Nas galhas foram observadas formas brancas e vermelhas, ambas identificadas como A. litchii. A maior quantidade das duas formas foi registrada em outubro de 2008, com o número de formas vermelhas superando o de brancas. Ambas foram registradas em maior quantidade em folhas novas. Formas brancas em folhas novas apresentaram correlação negativa com o aumento da temperatura e da evapotranspiração. A infestação de A. litchii resultou em intensa erinose. Inicialmente surgiram eríneos claros na página inferior das folhas novas, que... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The lychee is a fruit of great economic value. The culture of litchi can be very damaged by the infestation of the Aceria litchii (Keifer) mite, their main pest. Little is known about the patterns of occurrence and diversity of communities of mites associated with this crop in Brazil, and this knowledge is basic and essential in preparing proposals for the management of this pest. The work objectives were study the occurrence of A. litchii on litchi plants in the municipality of Casa Branca, state of Sao Paulo, to characterize the symptoms of damage resulting from its development and identify possible biological control agents of this pest. The occurrence of A. litchii and the damage caused were observed in four adult 12-year-old trees of the Bengal variety. For this four branch extremities, approximately 0.5 m long, were collected every month from each plant from August 2008 to August 2009. The predators mites were evaluate on two branches, 0.3 m long. The variables considered for A. litchii were: percentage of attacked leaves, number of galls on the leaves, number of mites present in galls on leaves and buds. Predators were mounted on microscope slide, identified and counted. In the galls were observed red and white forms, both identified as A. litchii. The greatest amount of both forms was recorded in October 2008, with the number of the red forms overcoming of the white forms. Both were recorded in larger amounts in young leaves. White forms in young leaves were negatively correlated with increasing temperature and evapotranspiration. The infestation of A. litchii resulted in intense erinose. Initially erineos were clear on the underside of young leaves, and were gradually darkening and taking the leaf surface. Galls with erineos clear were positively correlated with the number of white forms in young leaves, indicating that these... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

La lutte biologique par conservation des habitats est une voie pour réduire la dépendance et l’impact des traitements insecticides qui sont nombreux et toxiques. Elle est particulièrement appropriée pour les vergers d’agrumes qui comprennent, souvent, de grandes surfaces non cultivées. Les auxiliaires présents en plus grand nombre dans un enherbement sont alors plus facilement mobilisables lors d’attaques massives de ravageurs sur les arbres. Ce travail de thèse a pour objectif d’évaluer l’impact des modes de gestion de l’enherbement (fauche, broyage, travail du sol et herbicide) sur les communautés végétales et les populations d’auxiliaires au sein du verger, en s’intéressant à deux communautés évoluant à deux échelles spatiales distinctes : les Phytoseiidae et les Coccinellidae. Nos résultats ont montré une différenciation fonctionnelle des communautés végétales soumises à différents modes de gestion dans le temps. Les Phytoseiidae sont présents en abondances comparables dans toutes ces communautés végétales mais sont cependant influencés par l’abondance dans le couvert des espèces végétales portant des densités de trichomes modérés et des domaties. De même, les abondances de Coccinellidae sont positivement corrélées à l’abondance des Poaceae sur la parcelle alors que les modalités de gestion de l’enherbement testées n’ont pas montré d’effet significatif. Ces connaissances ont pu être mobilisées et articulées pour l’élaboration d’un prototype d’outil d’aide à la décision contribuant à la conception de vergers agroécologiques. Il permet l’évaluation ex ante de scénarios de pratiques de gestion de l’enherbement en vue d’optimiser la lutte biologique par conservation au sein des vergers d’agrumes. Nous avons choisi une approche fonctionnelle qui permettra de généraliser facilement l’outil à d’autres cultures moyennant un élargissement de la base de données comportant les traits fonctionnels aux espèces végétales non renseignées et une bonne connaissance des affinités des auxiliaires que l’on cherche à favoriser / Biological control through habitat conservation is a way to reduce the reliance on and the impact of insecticide treatments that are numerous and toxic. It is particularly suitable for citrus orchards which include large areas often uncultivated. The natural enemies present in greater number in a vegetal cover are then more easily mobilized during massive attacks of pests on trees. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the impact of different weed management methods (mowing, milling, tillage and herbicide) on plant communities and natural enemies populations within the orchard, focusing on two communities that evolve at two distinct spatial scales: the Phytoseiidae and the Coccinellidae. Our results showed a functional differentiation of vegetal communities managed with different weed management methods over time. Phytoseiidae are present in comparable abundances in all these plant communities but are influenced by the abundance of plant species with densities of moderate trichomes and domaties in the vegetal cover. Similarly, the abundances of Coccinellidae are positively correlated with the abundance of Poaceae species on the plot whereas the weed management modalities have no significant impact. This knowledge has been mobilized and articulated for the development of a decision-making tool prototype contributing to the design of agro-ecological orchards. It allows ex ante evaluation of scenarios of weed management practices in order to optimize biological control by conservation in citrus orchards. We have chosen a functional approach which will easily allow to generalize the tool to other crops by expanding the database with functional traits to non-informed plant species and a good knowledge of the affinities of natural enemies to promote

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-12-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:42:57Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 ruiz_mg_dr_jabo.pdf: 360004 bytes, checksum: c4d8869a65f234f2056a1838f5d53e3f (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidad Nacional Del Comahue / Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) é o principal agente de controle biológico de ácaros Tetranychidae nas culturas de pêras e maçãs do “Alto Valle del Río Negro y Neuquén”, Argentina. Os ácaros predadores, especialmente Phytoseiidae, podem manter os ácaros fitófagos em níves que não causam danos econômicos nas pomáceas. No laboratório, foi avaliada a mortalidade de N. californicus quando exposto a resíduos de azinfós metil, carbaril, ciflutrina, cihexatina e propargito, aos 1, 3, 6 e 10 dias após a aplicação desses produtos no campo. Cihexatina e propargito mostraram a maior mortalidade; azinfós metil mostrou a maior sobrevivência do predador. No campo, foi avaliado o efeito de três manejos fitossanitários (sem tratamentos, azinfós metil em calendário fixo de pulverização e manejo convencional), sobre os ácaros fitófagos, de hábito alimentar variado e predadores em macieira. Em dois ciclos vegetativos foram realizadas amostragens quinzenais, tomando-se 10 folhas de cada uma de 20 plantas em cada manejo. O manejo convencional afeta severamente os ácaros dos três hábitos alimentares. Azinfós metil não teve influência visível nas populações de ácaros predadores, nem no controle biológico por eles exercido. Diptacus gigantorhynchus (Nalepa) (Diptilomiopidae), Agistemus fleschneri (Summers), A. longisetus Gonzalez- Rodriguez e A. ecuadoriensis Gonzalez-Rodriguez (Stigmaeidae) são registradas pela primeira vez naquela região. Estudos são necessários para determinar as relação entre Phytoseiidae e Stigmaeidae nas condições específicas da região. / Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) is the main biological control agent of Tetranychidae pest mites of pear and apple crops in the region known as “Alto Valle del Río Negro y Neuquén”, Argentina. Predatory mites, mainly Phytoseiidae, can keep populations of phytophagous mites at levels that do not cause economic losses in pip fruit crops. In the laboratory, we assessed the mortality of N. californicus when exposed to field-weathered residues of azimphos-methyl, carbaryl, cyfluthrin, cyhexatin and propargite at 1, 3, 6 and 10 days after application. Cyhexatin and propargite showed the greatest negative effects; azimphos-methyl was the pesticide that least affected the survival of the predatory mite. In the field, we assessed the effect of three pest managements (no pesticide treatments, calendar azimphos-methyl sprayings and conventional pest control) on the population of phytophagous, varied feeding habits and predatory mites in apple orchards. A sample of 10 leaves from each of 20 trees was taken fortnightly from each management throughout two growing seasons. The conventional pest control severely affects populations of the three feeding habit groups of mites. The insecticide azimphos-methyl had no apparent effect neither on the predatory mite population nor on the biological control. Diptacus gigantorhynchus (Nalepa) (Diptilomiopidae), Agistemus fleschneri (Summers), A. longisetus Gonzalez- Rodriguez and A. ecuadoriensis Gonzalez-Rodriguez (Stigmaeidae) are reported to occur in that region for the first time. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate the relationship between Phytoseiidae and Stigmaeidae mites in the specific conditions of that region.

Orientador: Gilberto José de Moraes / Banca: Carlos Amadeu Leite de Oliveira / Banca: Nilza Maria Martinelli / Banca: Mário Eidi Sato / Banca: Pedro Takao Yamamoto / Resumo: Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) é o principal agente de controle biológico de ácaros Tetranychidae nas culturas de pêras e maçãs do "Alto Valle del Río Negro y Neuquén", Argentina. Os ácaros predadores, especialmente Phytoseiidae, podem manter os ácaros fitófagos em níves que não causam danos econômicos nas pomáceas. No laboratório, foi avaliada a mortalidade de N. californicus quando exposto a resíduos de azinfós metil, carbaril, ciflutrina, cihexatina e propargito, aos 1, 3, 6 e 10 dias após a aplicação desses produtos no campo. Cihexatina e propargito mostraram a maior mortalidade; azinfós metil mostrou a maior sobrevivência do predador. No campo, foi avaliado o efeito de três manejos fitossanitários (sem tratamentos, azinfós metil em calendário fixo de pulverização e manejo convencional), sobre os ácaros fitófagos, de hábito alimentar variado e predadores em macieira. Em dois ciclos vegetativos foram realizadas amostragens quinzenais, tomando-se 10 folhas de cada uma de 20 plantas em cada manejo. O manejo convencional afeta severamente os ácaros dos três hábitos alimentares. Azinfós metil não teve influência visível nas populações de ácaros predadores, nem no controle biológico por eles exercido. Diptacus gigantorhynchus (Nalepa) (Diptilomiopidae), Agistemus fleschneri (Summers), A. longisetus Gonzalez- Rodriguez e A. ecuadoriensis Gonzalez-Rodriguez (Stigmaeidae) são registradas pela primeira vez naquela região. Estudos são necessários para determinar as relação entre Phytoseiidae e Stigmaeidae nas condições específicas da região. / Abstract: Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) is the main biological control agent of Tetranychidae pest mites of pear and apple crops in the region known as "Alto Valle del Río Negro y Neuquén", Argentina. Predatory mites, mainly Phytoseiidae, can keep populations of phytophagous mites at levels that do not cause economic losses in pip fruit crops. In the laboratory, we assessed the mortality of N. californicus when exposed to field-weathered residues of azimphos-methyl, carbaryl, cyfluthrin, cyhexatin and propargite at 1, 3, 6 and 10 days after application. Cyhexatin and propargite showed the greatest negative effects; azimphos-methyl was the pesticide that least affected the survival of the predatory mite. In the field, we assessed the effect of three pest managements (no pesticide treatments, calendar azimphos-methyl sprayings and conventional pest control) on the population of phytophagous, varied feeding habits and predatory mites in apple orchards. A sample of 10 leaves from each of 20 trees was taken fortnightly from each management throughout two growing seasons. The conventional pest control severely affects populations of the three feeding habit groups of mites. The insecticide azimphos-methyl had no apparent effect neither on the predatory mite population nor on the biological control. Diptacus gigantorhynchus (Nalepa) (Diptilomiopidae), Agistemus fleschneri (Summers), A. longisetus Gonzalez- Rodriguez and A. ecuadoriensis Gonzalez-Rodriguez (Stigmaeidae) are reported to occur in that region for the first time. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate the relationship between Phytoseiidae and Stigmaeidae mites in the specific conditions of that region. / Doutor

Projet réalisé en cotutelle avec Jacques Brodeur et Les Shipp / Ce projet de recherche a examiné le supplément alimentaire comme technique pour accroître l'efficacité de deux espèces d’acariens prédateurs, Neoseiulus cucumeris et Amblyseius swirskii contre le thrips des petits fruits Frankliniella occidentalis. Des tests en laboratoire ont vérifié l’adéquation de trois espèces de pollen – de quenouille, de maïs et de pomme – ainsi que des œufs de la pyrale Méditerranéenne de la farine pour les acariens prédateurs à l'étude. En termes de valeur rm, les œufs de pyrale et les pollens de quenouille et de pomme étaient de qualité égale pour A. swirskii, tandis que le pollen de pomme s’est distingué pour N. cucumeris. Lorsque nourris d’oeufs de la pyrale, les deux espèces ont complété leur développement avec des valeurs de rm élevées. Le pollen de pomme est apparu comme étant un supplément alimentaire accessible et adéquat pour les deux prédateurs. À court terme (période de 24h), l’influence du pollen de pomme sur les interactions trophiques (larves de F. occidentalis comme proie) et intraguildes (entre les espèces de prédateurs) sur chrysanthèmes standardisés a été examinée. La présence de pollen a considérablement réduit la prédation de N. cucumeris sur les thrips ainsi que la prédation intraguilde pour les deux prédateurs. L'impact du pollen de pomme sur les populations de thrips et sur la rétention des prédateurs dans une culture de chrysanthèmes a été évalué sur une période de 4 semaines. L'introduction de A. swirskii avec pollen a permis le meilleur contrôle des populations de thrips tandis que N. cucumeris ne s’est pas établi dans la culture lorsqu'il a été introduit seul. Le pollen de pomme a amélioré la lutte au thrips par A. swirskii dans une culture de chrysanthème via une réponse numérique de la proie et la rétention des prédateurs dans la culture. Le plus bas taux de dommages importants a été observé lorsque les deux acariens prédateurs étaient utilisés de concert. / This research investigated supplemental food source as a technique to increase the efficiency of two species of predatory mites, Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii against the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Laboratory assays aimed to assess the suitability of three pollen species – cattail, maize and apple – and eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth as supplemental food source for the predatory mites under study. In terms of rm value, flour moth eggs, cattail pollen and apple pollen were food sources of equal quality for A. swirskii, while apple pollen appeared to stand out for to N. cucumeris. Maize pollen was a less suitable food source for both species. When fed flour moth eggs, A. swirskii and N.cucumeris completed development and showed high rm values. Apple pollen appeared to be an accessible and suitable food source for both predators. Short term (24h period) influence of apple pollen availability on trophic (F. occidentalis larvae as prey) and intraguild (between the predator species) interactions on standardized chrysanthemum was examined. It significantly lowered predation on thrips by N. cucumeris and led to a decrease in intraguild predation for both predators. Following this, the impact of apple pollen on thrips populations and predator’s maintenance on chrysanthemum greenhouse crop was assessed over a 4 weeks period. The introduction of A. swirskii with pollen provided the best control on thrips while N. cucumeris did not remain on the crop when introduced alone. Apple pollen improved thrips control by A. swirskii in chrysanthemum crops through prey numerical response and retention of predators on plants. The lowest rate of heavy dammages were observed when both predators were used together.

O ácaro Tetranychus evansi Baker e Pritchard é conhecido em diversos países atacando plantas da família Solanaceae. Este ácaro tem chamado a atenção de pesquisadores, por atingir a condição de praga do tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) na África e por sua recente dispersão a diversos países na região Mediterrânea e na Ásia. Considera-se a América do Sul como a possível região de origem deste ácaro. No contexto de um projeto de controle biológico clássico, buscas de inimigos de T. evansi têm sido realizadas na América do Sul, para sua introdução na África. O presente trabalho relata os resultados de buscas conduzidas no Peru e no norte da Argentina em lugares climaticamente semelhantes a regiões africanas onde T. evansi ocorre. As coletas foram realizadas em 10 Departamentos no Peru e em 6 Províncias da Argentina. Dos ácaros encontrados neste estudo, Phytoseiidae e Tetranychidae foram os mais diversos em ambos os países. T. evansi não foi encontrado no Peru, mas foi o tetraniquídeo mais frequentemente encontrado na Argentina. No Peru Tetranychus desertorum Banks foi o tetraniquídeo mais freqüente Os fitoseídeos mais frequentemente encontrados nos campos amostrados foram Euseius emanus (El-Banhawy), Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) e Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) evectus (Schuster) no Peru e Euseius concordis (Chant) na Argentina. O fungo patogênico Neozygites floridana Weiser e Muma, Entomophthrales, foi o inimigo natural mais encontrado em associação com T. evansi na Argentina. Este fungo parece ser um agente de controle promissor daquela praga, tendo sido encontrado causando epizootias em um campo de tomateiro e outro de berinjela durante este estudo. Foram escassos os ácaros predadores associados a T. evansi na Argentina; N. californicus, Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark e Muma e Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) foram as espécies encontradas ocasionalmente associadas a T. evansi. Phytoseiulus longipes Evans, considerado um agente promissor de controle de T. evansi previamente detectado por outros autores no sul do Brasil, não foi encontrado na Argentina nem no Peru no presente estudo. Estudos complementares dos inimigos naturais encontrados neste estudo em associação com T. evansi devem ser conduzidos. / The mite Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (Tetranychidae) in known from several countries attacking plants of the family Solanaceae. It has been calling the attention of researchers for its pest status on tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in Africa and for its recent dispersal to countries in the Mediterranean region and in Asia. South America has been considered the possible region of origin of this mite. In the context of a classical biological control project, searches for efficient natural enemies of T. evansi have been conducted in South America, for introduction in Africa. The present work reports results of searches conducted in Peru and northern Argentina, in places climatically similarities to regions in Africa where T. evansi is found. The searches were conducted in 10 Departments in Peru and in 6 Provinces in Argentina. Of the mites found in those surveys, Phytoseiidae and Tetranychidae were the most diverse in both countries. T. evansi was not found in Peru, but it was the tetranychid most frequently found in Argentina. In the former country, Tetranychus desertorum Banks was the most frequent tetranychid. The phytoseiids most frequently found were Euseius emanus (El-Banhawy), Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) e Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) evectus (Schuster) in Peru and Euseius concordis (Chant) in Argentina. The pathogenic fungus Neozygites floridana Weiser and Muma, Entomophthorales, was the natural enemy most commonly found in association with T. evansi in Argentina. This fungus seems a promising control agent of T. evansi; it was found causing epizooties in a tomato and in an egg plant (Solanum melongena L.) plantation during this study. Predaceous mites were rarely found associated with T. evansi in Argentina; N. californicus, Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma and Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) were the phtoseiids occasionally found in association with it. Phytoseilus longipes Evans, considered a promising control agent of T. evansi, found previously by other authors in southern Brazil, was neither found in Argentina nor Peru. Complementary studies on the performance of the natural enemies found in this study in association with T. evansi are warranted.

Ce projet de recherche a examiné le supplément alimentaire comme technique pour accroître l'efficacité de deux espèces d’acariens prédateurs, Neoseiulus cucumeris et Amblyseius swirskii contre le thrips des petits fruits Frankliniella occidentalis. Des tests en laboratoire ont vérifié l’adéquation de trois espèces de pollen – de quenouille, de maïs et de pomme – ainsi que des œufs de la pyrale Méditerranéenne de la farine pour les acariens prédateurs à l'étude. En termes de valeur rm, les œufs de pyrale et les pollens de quenouille et de pomme étaient de qualité égale pour A. swirskii, tandis que le pollen de pomme s’est distingué pour N. cucumeris. Lorsque nourris d’oeufs de la pyrale, les deux espèces ont complété leur développement avec des valeurs de rm élevées. Le pollen de pomme est apparu comme étant un supplément alimentaire accessible et adéquat pour les deux prédateurs. À court terme (période de 24h), l’influence du pollen de pomme sur les interactions trophiques (larves de F. occidentalis comme proie) et intraguildes (entre les espèces de prédateurs) sur chrysanthèmes standardisés a été examinée. La présence de pollen a considérablement réduit la prédation de N. cucumeris sur les thrips ainsi que la prédation intraguilde pour les deux prédateurs. L'impact du pollen de pomme sur les populations de thrips et sur la rétention des prédateurs dans une culture de chrysanthèmes a été évalué sur une période de 4 semaines. L'introduction de A. swirskii avec pollen a permis le meilleur contrôle des populations de thrips tandis que N. cucumeris ne s’est pas établi dans la culture lorsqu'il a été introduit seul. Le pollen de pomme a amélioré la lutte au thrips par A. swirskii dans une culture de chrysanthème via une réponse numérique de la proie et la rétention des prédateurs dans la culture. Le plus bas taux de dommages importants a été observé lorsque les deux acariens prédateurs étaient utilisés de concert. / This research investigated supplemental food source as a technique to increase the efficiency of two species of predatory mites, Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii against the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Laboratory assays aimed to assess the suitability of three pollen species – cattail, maize and apple – and eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth as supplemental food source for the predatory mites under study. In terms of rm value, flour moth eggs, cattail pollen and apple pollen were food sources of equal quality for A. swirskii, while apple pollen appeared to stand out for to N. cucumeris. Maize pollen was a less suitable food source for both species. When fed flour moth eggs, A. swirskii and N.cucumeris completed development and showed high rm values. Apple pollen appeared to be an accessible and suitable food source for both predators. Short term (24h period) influence of apple pollen availability on trophic (F. occidentalis larvae as prey) and intraguild (between the predator species) interactions on standardized chrysanthemum was examined. It significantly lowered predation on thrips by N. cucumeris and led to a decrease in intraguild predation for both predators. Following this, the impact of apple pollen on thrips populations and predator’s maintenance on chrysanthemum greenhouse crop was assessed over a 4 weeks period. The introduction of A. swirskii with pollen provided the best control on thrips while N. cucumeris did not remain on the crop when introduced alone. Apple pollen improved thrips control by A. swirskii in chrysanthemum crops through prey numerical response and retention of predators on plants. The lowest rate of heavy dammages were observed when both predators were used together. / Projet réalisé en cotutelle avec Jacques Brodeur et Les Shipp